PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 08: Rodney McLeod #23, Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles raise their fists in protest during the playing of the National Anthem as teammate Chris Long #56 shows support before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field on October 8, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

NFL Players Coalition: Focus on Issues, Not Protests

The social justice group released an open letter on The Players’ Tribune.

6 months ago

On the eve of the 2018 NFL season kicking off, the Players Coalition released an open letter on The Players’ Tribune asking fans and media to focus on social justice issues, not protests.

The Coalition, which reached an agreement with the NFL on a $90 million partnership to work on social justice issues earlier this year, is made up of players including Doug Baldwin, Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long, and Devin McCourty who attempt to bring awareness to social issues.

In the letter, the Coalition points out the disparity between the number of white inmates and persons of color in the prison system and the income inequality gap between blacks and whites.

“This is not equality,” the letter reads. “As the 2018 NFL season starts, we promise you that we will work to fight for meaningful change for as long as it takes. This is what we feel is our duty as American citizens.”

In addition to reinforcing that the Coalition is for, not against, the military and police, the letter includes a message asking us all to focus on the broader issues the group is calling attention to instead of what individual players are doing, or not doing, prior to kickoffs across the league.

“Our work will continue this season,” the letter reads “We hope the media stops asking the same old questions about, ‘Will they or won’t they protest?’ Instead, we want them to focus on our efforts to create a better country for every citizen, and on the reasons why we have not yet met that goal. And we hope that the press, our fans, and our skeptics recognize that our desire to draw attention to these pressing issues, either through protest or our off-the-field work, is our own vow of loyalty.”